Meet Arshaad Norwood of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Arshaad Norwood.

Hi Arshaad, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Arshaad Norwood, known as “The Brother Behind the Bristles,” is a dynamic force in Atlanta’s contemporary art scene and an accomplished visual artist with more than two decades of experience. His contributions to the arts, education, and community engagement have established him as a respected creative leader throughout Atlanta and beyond.

Born in Philadelphia and raised in the Christian City foster care system, Arshaad transformed his passion for art into a distinguished career rooted in creativity, mentorship, and service. After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from LaGrange College in 2005, he quickly emerged as a rising talent within Atlanta’s art community. In 2009, his painting The Triumph earned first place at the Arts Clayton Gallery, solidifying his reputation as an emerging artist.

Driven by a passion for inspiring young creatives, Arshaad transitioned into education and became an art educator at Jonesboro High School. He later earned a Master’s degree in Secondary Education, further establishing himself as both an academic and creative leader. Expanding his impact beyond the classroom, he founded ArtbyArshaad LLC, a creative platform through which he continues to produce original work while mentoring and supporting aspiring artists within the community.

Arshaad’s artistic career continued to flourish when he was commissioned as the Featured Artist for the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated Centennial Art Collection, a prestigious honor that introduced his work to an international audience. His artistic and community contributions have been recognized by Vince Williams, Andre Dickens, and Sedgwick Daniels. His work and story have also been featured in South Cobb Voice, Voyage ATL, ArtsATL, Atlanta News First, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and at the NBAF Ascend Horizon Awards.

Over the past year, Arshaad has achieved several significant milestones, including receiving the highest bid for his Graceland painting at the Christian City Community Champions Awards, completing a 3,000-square-foot mural for his former foster home at the Graceland Thrift Store, and being inducted into the Landmark Alumni Hall of Honors Class of 2025.

His artistic influence has also expanded into film and television, with his artwork featured in the AI Me and on the Bar Rescue broadcast on Paramount Global networks. These appearances further reflect his growing recognition as a versatile and impactful creative professional.

Today, Arshaad serves as the Photography and Advanced Graphic Design instructor at Westlake High School while continuing to expand his work as a muralist and community artist. He was recently selected by the Clayton County Tourism Authority to serve as the muralist for the Herndon Mural project in Jonesboro.

Arshaad Norwood’s journey—from foster care youth to acclaimed artist, educator, and mentor—reflects a lifelong commitment to artistic excellence, cultural impact, and empowering communities through creativity.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My art career has been marked by nearly every obstacle imaginable, yet through God’s grace, I have continued to persevere. My journey—from foster care to fatherhood—has come full circle and shaped both my life and my work. Along the way, I have endured several near death experiences, child abuse, homelessness, abandonment, family separation, financial hardship, job relocations, layoffs, workplace harassment, child autism diagnosis, and divorce. Despite these challenges, I have remained committed to using art as a source of healing, purpose, and inspiration for others.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My conviction is to create mesmerizing public art and awe inspiring exhibitions displaying museum collectibles that emanate his ephemeral art journey from the blight of bondage and my insatiable plight to pursue the American dream to the brink of oblivion and beyond in hopes to educate, empower & inspire the next generation of artists & community leaders promoting compassion, self reflection & upward mobility!

While I am proud of all my artistic accomplishments, the Graceland Mural stands as the most personally and professionally fulfilling milestone of my career. Having experienced the foster care system firsthand, I deeply understood the emotional challenge of revisiting childhood memories while also galvanizing volunteers around a social cause many often shy away from. My goal was to create a vivid work that reflects joy, peace, and love—transforming trauma into triumph and creating a safe space where individuals could reconnect with their foster family, memories, and sense of community.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I learned through my journey is Self Love. Self-love is more than celebrating your identity or accomplishments. It is accepting yourself fully—including your flaws, imperfections, and vulnerabilities. It means setting boundaries, nurturing your well-being, and understanding that you are worthy of love and respect exactly as you are, not because you’ve changed to meet the expectations of others.

Male Artists often struggle with this the most because so much of our value is measured by finances, followers, recognition, and status. When I left foster care, I made it my mission to become successful at all costs. I believed I wanted the stable career, the destination wedding, beautiful wife, two kids, two dogs, and the house on the hill but what I truly wanted was to feel like I was enough—that I was worthy of a healthy family, genuine love, and respect.

Pricing:

• Murals = $5000-$30,000
• Art Collection= $500-$5000
• Art Commission= $500-$5000
• Live Art= = $300-$3000
• Limited Edition Prints= = $100-$500

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Artbyarshaad.com
• Instagram: http://Instagram.com/artbyarshaad
• Facebook: http://Facebook.com/artbyarshaad
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arshaad-norwood-25841323b/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@arshaadnorwood